Archetune-Up - Graveyard Smash 2: Electric Boogaloo

Archetune-Up - With AAAARMS Wide Open

Archetune-Up - Spirited Away

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sigarda, Champion of Light" href="#" target="_blank">Sigarda, Champion of Light</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.howardlyon.com/">Howard Lyon</a>)</h6>
<h1>The Night is Dark and Full of Terrors</h1>
<p>Hello, and welcome back to <em>Archetune-Up</em>, an article series devoted to tweaking a deck with the help of the EDHREC <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes">Theme</a> <a href="https://edhrec.com/tribes">Pages</a>!</p>
<p>With the beginning of <em>Innistrad: Midnight Hunt</em> previews, spoopy season is in full swing, and I couldn't be more excited. Autumn is my favorite time of the year, and Innistrad is my favorite plane, so having them both together at the same time is just <em>awesome</em>.</p>
<p>Over the next few weeks, as Halloween creeps in, I plan on writing about each of the five tribes of the plane, and what better way to start off than with the stalwart survivors, the Humans of Innistrad?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sigarda, Champion of Light"></div></div>
<p>This new iteration of Sigarda has gotten a bit of flack for not being more interesting than her previous form, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sigarda, Heron&#039;s Grace" href="#" target="_blank">Sigarda, Heron&#039;s Grace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (and for not having hexproof somewhere), but I quite like the aggressive slant of this version. A sizable, flying, trampling body is always welcome on a commander, and the added anthem and potential card advantage are lovely features that make this Sigarda appealing at the helm of a Human deck.</p>
<p>She isn't as defensive as <span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sigarda, Heron&#039;s Grace" href="#" target="_blank">her previous card</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but I see that as a boon instead of a drawback. This is great for certain metas and playgroups where targeted effects are scarce and the protection isn't as warranted. Instead of using the commander as a form of defense, a Humans deck can really kick it into high gear with a more aggressive <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sigarda, Champion of Light" href="#" target="_blank">Sigarda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to help them push damage through and close out games.</span></p>
<p>That said, while we're looking to put together an aggressive list, I still think <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sigarda, Heron&#039;s Grace" href="#" target="_blank">Sigarda, Heron&#039;s Grace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s average list is the place to start, so let's grab that and see where we can make some tune-ups!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Average Sigarda" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Sigarda, Heron&#039;s Grace
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Angel of Glory&#039;s Rise
*1 Archetype of Courage
*1 Avacyn&#039;s Pilgrim
*1 Baird, Steward of Argive
*1 Champion of Lambholt
*1 Champion of the Parish
*1 Destiny Spinner
*1 Devout Chaplain
*1 Druid of Purification
*1 Duskwatch Recruiter
*1 Esper Sentinel
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Fiend Hunter
*1 Frontline Medic
*1 Grand Abolisher
*1 Hamlet Captain
*1 Hanweir Militia Captain
*1 Herald of War
*1 Heron&#039;s Grace Champion
*1 Juniper Order Ranger
*1 Maja, Bretagard Protector
*1 Mentor of the Meek
*1 Mikaeus, the Lunarch
*1 Mother of Runes
*1 Odric, Lunarch Marshal
*1 Odric, Master Tactician
*1 Riders of Gavony
*1 Shalai, Voice of Plenty
*1 Shanna, Sisay&#039;s Legacy
*1 Thalia&#039;s Lancers
*1 Thalia&#039;s Lieutenant
*1 Thalia, Heretic Cathar
*1 Thraben Doomsayer
*1 Tireless Tracker
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Cathars&#039; Crusade
*1 Growing Rites of Itlimoc
*1 Guardian Project
*1 Mirari&#039;s Wake
*1 Sanctuary Lockdown
*1 True Conviction
*1 Ulvenwald Mysteries
[/Enchantments]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Icon of Ancestry
*1 Lifecrafter&#039;s Bestiary
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Selesnya Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Vanquisher&#039;s Banner
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Collective Effort
*1 Cultivate
*1 Dusk // Dawn
*1 Harmonize
*1 Increasing Devotion
*1 Kodama&#039;s Reach
*1 Rampant Growth
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Beast Within
*1 Eladamri&#039;s Call
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Repel the Abominable
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Unbreakable Formation
[/Instants]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Ajani, the Greathearted
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Blossoming Sands
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Castle Ardenvale
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*6 Forest
*1 Fortified Village
*1 Gavony Township
*1 Krosan Verge
*14 Plains
*1 Scattered Groves
*1 Selesnya Sanctuary
*1 Sunpetal Grove
*1 Temple Garden
*1 Temple of Plenty
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Unclaimed Territory
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>Unlike the past few articles, this average list doesn't have any glaring flaws. The land count is acceptable, there are anthems, and lots of Humans. The biggest issue is that there are a couple of <em>other</em> Angels in the list. I am <em>very</em> strict when it comes to my tribal decks. I don't care if the Angels have tribal synergies or not: if it isn't a Human, it's out. I'm cutting it. 😤</p>
<p>I could keep complaining about the non-Human cards I had to cut, but instead, let's just get into the cards I added from the <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/sigarda-herons-grace/human">G/W Human Theme</a>, shall we?</p>
<hr />
<h2>Strength in Numbers</h2>
<p>Because of the cuts to the creature count, the deck is now at 28 total creatures. For casual tribal decks, I like being at 30 or more, so let's pick up some solid Humans from this theme and add them to our growing coven!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bastion Protector"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Silverblade Paladin"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Courageous Outrider"></div></div>
<p>The three Humans I added are strong and straightforward and are welcome additions to the list. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bastion Protector" href="#" target="_blank">Bastion Protector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pumps <span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sigarda, Champion of Light" href="#" target="_blank">Sigarda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and helps her stick around, which is quite important, since she's one of main forms of card advantage in this deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Silverblade Paladin" href="#" target="_blank">Silverblade Paladin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is just a solid creature, letting us push damage through with two double striking creatures, one of which can be <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sigarda, Champion of Light" href="#" target="_blank">our commander</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This is relevant, since it will let her knock opponents out with commander damage in three attacks. Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Courageous Outrider" href="#" target="_blank">Courageous Outrider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is just a solid Human with a good body, and it can replace itself, which I'll never turn away!</span></p>
<p>All three of these cards a very solid role-players, and each adds a bit of flexibility to the deck. Most of the time, tribal decks try to win games by going wide and dealing combat damage, so having ways to accrue card advantage or close out games with Humans, while also potentially facilitating commander damage, will give our deck a lot of dimensionality.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Bigger the Toolbox, the Longer the Life</h2>
<p>Now that all our Humans are accounted for, I want to make sure they have the proper amount of support. These last seven cards I'm adding are ways to give our survivors the push they needed to make it through the night.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Makindi Stampede"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ondu Inversion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bala Ged Recovery"></div></div>
<p>Let's start off with <em>Zendikar Rising</em> MDFCs. There isn't a decklist I've put together that doesn't use these anymore. Of all the MDFCs that were incidentally scattered across the Human Tribal theme page, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Makindi Stampede" href="#" target="_blank">Makindi Stampede</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ondu Inversion" href="#" target="_blank">Ondu Inversion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bala Ged Recovery" href="#" target="_blank">Bala Ged Recovery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> caught my interest the most. These are all desirable effects that I'm happy to include, especially when they double as lands. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ondu Inversion" href="#" target="_blank">Ondu Inversion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a particular favorite of mine, since sometimes you just <em>need </em>a board wipe, no matter if you're piloting a creature-based deck or not, and slotting it in as part of the mana base is a great option to have.</p>
<p>Other options for MDFCs for this deck would be <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sejiri Shelter" href="#" target="_blank">Sejiri Shelter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Turntimber Symbiosis" href="#" target="_blank">Turntimber Symbiosis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sejiri Shelter" href="#" target="_blank">Sejiri Shelter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be used offensively or defensively, depending on if you need to blank enemy removal or push damage through. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Turntimber Symbiosis" href="#" target="_blank">Turntimber Symbiosis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, on the other hand, is usually not great when it's cheating out smaller creatures, as it only adds three extra +1/+1 counters to whatever you find, but since <span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sigarda, Champion of Light" href="#" target="_blank">Sigarda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> cares about having varied powers, those extra counters can be enough to trigger her <em>Coven</em> ability and dig for some extra friends!</span></p>
<hr />
<h2>Bar the Gate! Hold for Reinforcements!</h2>
<p>Lastly, I've got four more cards to assist our Human companions through their most dire hour. We've seen a couple of them before, but the others are neat, niche inclusions for this list.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Overwhelming Stampede"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spare From Evil"></div></div>
<p>Both of these spells seek to modify our entire team in some way. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overwhelming Stampede" href="#" target="_blank">Overwhelming Stampede</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a game-ending spell that can quite literally overwhelm the board with minimal investment. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spare From Evil" href="#" target="_blank">Spare From Evil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can pivot between offensive and defensive, depending on what we need at the time. Giving all of our Humans protection from non-Humans is great for blunting an assault or completely bypassing our opponents' defenses, so use it accordingly!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Call the Coppercoats"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bow of Nylea"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Call the Coppercoats" href="#" target="_blank">Call the Coppercoats</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an army in a can. It's been picking up in popularity recently, showing up in over <a href="https://edhrec.com/cards/call-the-coppercoats">4,400 decks</a>, and for good reason! I usually dislike spells that rely on our opponents, but when they're cheap, scalable, and an instant, I have to make an exception. Having a powerful and flexible spell like this ready to go at a moment's notice is incredibly strong, as it can add a large number of bodies to the board in a flash. The icing on the cake with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Call the Coppercoats" href="#" target="_blank">Call the Coppercoats</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, though, is that all the creatures it makes are <em>Human</em> Soldiers, meaning that not only will Sigarda pump them, but they will also synergize with our plentiful Human payoffs, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hamlet Captain" href="#" target="_blank">Hamlet Captain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heron&#039;s Grace Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Heron&#039;s Grace Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<p>The final card, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bow of Nylea" href="#" target="_blank">Bow of Nylea</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, might seem a bit odd at first, but I think it's worth the slot because of its versatility. The main appeal of <span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bow of Nylea" href="#" target="_blank">Bow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is twofold: first, to make our team a pain for enemies to block, and second, as a means of putting +1/+1 counters on our creatures. The ability to add extra counters as needed helps us diversify our team's power, and will go a long way in making sure we are able to trigger <em>Coven</em>. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Like I said earlier, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sigarda, Champion of Light" href="#" target="_blank">Sigarda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of this deck's main means of accruing card advantage, so a permanent that helps our entire team while also enabling our commander's ability is awesome. That isn't even mentioning the other three abilities of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bow of Nylea" href="#" target="_blank">Bow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> either! Pinging fliers, gaining life, and putting cards back into the deck are just icing on the cake. I think <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bow of Nylea" href="#" target="_blank">Bow of Nylea</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> flies under the radar quite often, but here, it's right at home. </span></p>
<hr />
<h2>Welcome to the Fold</h2>
<p>There we have it! A lovely little Human list, poised to take on whatever the ghastly creatures lurk in the night!</p>
<p>While these two Innistrad sets are focused on Werewolves and Vampires, I think Humans stand to gain a lot here, especially since they're getting their own <em>Coven Counters</em> precon!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Leinore, Autumn Sovereign"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Contortionist Troupe"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gavony Dawnguard"></div></div>
<p>There are going to be a lot of synergistic Human Tribal cards coming out over the next few months, so be sure to keep a lookout. If there was ever a time to band together with your fellow Humans, it's now! There will be upgrades and powerful cards aplenty!</p>
<p>What about you though? What are your thoughts on Human Tribal? Was I too strict when I excluded all non-Human cards form the deck? What's your favorite Innistrad tribe? Make sure to let me know down below!</p>
<p>As always, you can reach me on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/thejesguy">@thejesguy</a>), where you can always hit me up for <i>Magic- </i>or Jeskai-related shenanigans 24/7. Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns? Please don’t hesitate to leave them below or get in touch! Stay safe, get vaccinated, wear your mask, and keep fighting the good fight. I support you. No justice, no peace.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Archetuned-Up NEW Sigarda" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Sigarda, Champion of Light
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Archetype of Courage
*1 Avacyn&#039;s Pilgrim
*1 Bastion Protector
*1 Champion of Lambholt
*1 Champion of the Parish
*1 Courageous Outrider
*1 Devout Chaplain
*1 Druid of Purification
*1 Esper Sentinel
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Fiend Hunter
*1 Frontline Medic
*1 Grand Abolisher
*1 Hamlet Captain
*1 Hanweir Militia Captain
*1 Heron&#039;s Grace Champion
*1 Juniper Order Ranger
*1 Maja, Bretagard Protector
*1 Mentor of the Meek
*1 Mikaeus, the Lunarch
*1 Mother of Runes
*1 Odric, Lunarch Marshal
*1 Odric, Master Tactician
*1 Riders of Gavony
*1 Shanna, Sisay&#039;s Legacy
*1 Silverblade Paladin
*1 Thalia&#039;s Lancers
*1 Thalia&#039;s Lieutenant
*1 Thalia, Heretic Cathar
*1 Thraben Doomsayer
*1 Tireless Tracker
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Cathars&#039; Crusade
*1 Growing Rites of Itlimoc
*1 Guardian Project
*1 Mirari&#039;s Wake
*1 True Conviction
*1 Ulvenwald Mysteries
[/Enchantments]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bow of Nylea
*1 Icon of Ancestry
*1 Lifecrafter&#039;s Bestiary
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Selesnya Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Vanquisher&#039;s Banner
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Beast Within
*1 Call the Coppercoats
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Repel the Abominable
*1 Spare from Evil
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Unbreakable Formation
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Bala Ged Recovery
*1 Cultivate
*1 Dusk // Dawn
*1 Harmonize
*1 Increasing Devotion
*1 Kodama&#039;s Reach
*1 Makindi Stampede
*1 Ondu Inversion
*1 Overwhelming Stampede
*1 Rampant Growth
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Blossoming Sands
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Castle Ardenvale
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*6 Forest
*1 Fortified Village
*1 Gavony Township
*1 Krosan Verge
*14 Plains
*1 Scattered Groves
*1 Selesnya Sanctuary
*1 Sunpetal Grove
*1 Temple Garden
*1 Temple of Plenty
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Unclaimed Territory
[/Lands]"></span></div>



white

Archetune-Up - Graveyard Smash 2: Electric Boogaloo

Archetune-Up - With AAAARMS Wide Open

Archetune-Up - Spirited Away

Archetune-Up - A Light in the Darkness

Archetune-Up - The Hunter's Blades

Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Set Review - White

EDH Political Science – Lifesaving Information

Archetune-Up - The Silverquill Edition!

Archetune-Up - Thief of Hearts (and Creatures)

Archetune-Up - New Year, New Me